Resene History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Resene

What does the name Resene mean?

The Resene surname comes from the Middle English, Old French word "raison," meaning "the power of reason;" as such it was most likely originally a nickname for an intelligent person.

Early Origins of the Resene family

The surname Resene was first found in Lincolnshire where they held a family seat at Market, Middle and West Rasen which were held by Bishop Odo of Bayeux. The under tenant holding from the Bishop was Alfred of Lincoln, a Norman noble and, conjecturally, the Reason family are descended from him. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the year 1202 when Robert de Rasene held estates in Lincolnshire.

Early History of the Resene family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Resene research. Another 113 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Resene History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Resene Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Reason, Rasen, Rason, Rayson, Reson, Reasons, Resons, Reeson, Resen, Resun, Raysun, Rasne and many more.

Early Notables of the Resene family

More information is included under the topic Early Resene Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Resene family

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Resene or a variant listed above: Ralph Reason, who came to St. Christopher in 1635; James Reason, who arrived in Bermuda 1635; Henry Reason, who came to Virginia in 1635; Barbarie Reason, who arrived in Barbados in 1635.